Improvement in wagon-brake levers



T. 0. LAWRENCE. Wagon-Brake Lever.

No. 202,557. Patented Apri-l16,1878.-

\ WITNESSES INVENTOR W dim w;

ATTORNEY N4 PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. b. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE O. LAWRENCE, OF LADOGA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JAMEST. MACK, OF ORAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WAGON-BRAKE LEVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,557, dated April16, 1878; application filed November 24, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE O. LAW- RENCE, of Ladoga, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Indiana, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Wagon- Brakes; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the construction andoperation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon.

Figure]. of the drawings is a representation of a side view of thisinvention in the position of brakes applied. Fig. 2 is a similar viewwith the brakes oif. Figs. 3 and 4. represent details of the parts.

This invention has relation to improvements in wagon-brakes and thenature of the invention consists in the combination with a curvedratchet applied to the wagon-body, and a brake-lever pivoted below saidratchet to the body, of a swinging pawl-box pivoted to said lever, andcarrying an endwise-movable pawl,

and a connecting-rod pivoted to the pawl-box and secured to theshoe-supporter or shoe, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A desi gnates the side of awagon-body B, the brakelever, pivoted to the same below the curvedratchet O; and D, the connecting-rod, the rear end of which is securedin the usual manner to the shoe-bar, suspended across the wagon- Wisemovement within certain limits in the said box, and is prevented fromescaping therefrom by means of the said pivot on, that passes throughthe slot sin the pawl. This pawl gravitates naturally into engagementwith the ratchet.

The

The pawl-box has upon its front vertical edge a spur, c, projectinginward toward the wagon side, and bearing, when the brakes are applied,against the corresponding edge of the brake-lever. This spur serves as astop, and prevents the box from swinging to the rear beyond thebrake-lever.

The brakes are applied by throwing the lever B to the front, duringwhich operation the beveled end of the pawl passes freely over theratchet, and only bites thereon when the necessary pressure has beenapplied to the wheels and the lever is released.

The brakes are released by a simple backward movement of the lever, theefl'ect of which is to throw the pawl-box into the position shown inFig. 2, thereby raising the pawl free from the ratchet, and, of course,releasing the brakes. Y

The brake-lever works in a longitudinal slot of the ratchet, and isthereby guided iii its movements.

I am aware that an oscillating pawl operated by means of a spring toengage the curved ratchet of the brake has heretofore been employed, andthis I do not claim.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the curved ratchet G and the brake-lever B, ofthe pawl-box G, having reciprocating gravitating pawl b, andconnecting-rod D, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the curved ratchet O and the brake-lever B, ofthe swingingpawlbox G, having stop 0 and gravitating reciprocating pawlb, and a connecting-rod adjustably pivoted to said box, substantially asspecified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have I hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE G. LAWRENCE.

Witnesses:

Tnos. B. BELL, HENRY B. HULETI.

